Geneva, Nov 07, 2021
LOT 345
PUNCHINELLO AND THE FATHER TIME
CHF 7,000 - 9,000
HKD 59,000 - 76,000 / USD 7,600 - 9,800 / EUR 6,600 - 8,400TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE
Sold: CHF 9,375
Very fin and rare,18K yellow gold, open-face, key-winding pocket watch,
Quarter-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by depressing the
pendant), leading the two striking Jacks and the animated scene with
two functions The chiselled varicoloured gold scene shows two cherubs
Jacquemarts (Jacks) striking the elapsed time, and, upper, on a balcony
an automaton scene where Punchinello appears to strike the hour on
the scythe of Father Time; all animated by the repeating mechanism.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-8 |
Good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-71-01 |
Good ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines HANDS Original |
Brand Piaget
Model Punchinello and Father Time
Year Circa 1815
Movement No. 15390
Case No. 7408
Diameter 56 mm
Caliber 22’’’ gilded brass, with fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock
Signature Movement, Case numbered
Notes
“Punchinello”
In this uncommon automaton scene the figure of Punchinello enters the aperture at the top from the left when the pendant is depressed, after he has struck the hours he disappears and the cherubs below then strike the quarters. This type of watch is so rare that Alfred Chapuis and Edmond Droz found only a movement to illustrate it in their book Les Automates, p. 180. Five other watches with this configuration have been already auctioned by Antiquorum: - Signed “François L’hardy (Geneva)” (dial damaged; formerly in the Ruschitti Collection). Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, October 13, 2001, lot 594, unsold (Estimation: CHF 15000.- / 20 000.-); Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, June 14, 2003, lot 183, unsold (Estimation: CHF 10 000.- / 14 000.-). - Signed “Duchene & Fils (Geneva), No. 4562” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 13, 2011, lot 198, sold for the amount of CHF 11 250.- - Signed “Berthoud No. 10 815” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Hong Kong, auction, February 26, 2012, lot 157, sold for the amount of HK$ 150 000.- - Signed “Berthoud à Paris” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 10, 2013, lot 313, sold for the amount of CHF 15 000.- - Signed “Schuttleworth” Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 11, 2018, lot 344, unsold (Estimation: CHF 9 000.- / 14 000.-).
In this uncommon automaton scene the figure of Punchinello enters the aperture at the top from the left when the pendant is depressed, after he has struck the hours he disappears and the cherubs below then strike the quarters. This type of watch is so rare that Alfred Chapuis and Edmond Droz found only a movement to illustrate it in their book Les Automates, p. 180. Five other watches with this configuration have been already auctioned by Antiquorum: - Signed “François L’hardy (Geneva)” (dial damaged; formerly in the Ruschitti Collection). Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, October 13, 2001, lot 594, unsold (Estimation: CHF 15000.- / 20 000.-); Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, June 14, 2003, lot 183, unsold (Estimation: CHF 10 000.- / 14 000.-). - Signed “Duchene & Fils (Geneva), No. 4562” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 13, 2011, lot 198, sold for the amount of CHF 11 250.- - Signed “Berthoud No. 10 815” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Hong Kong, auction, February 26, 2012, lot 157, sold for the amount of HK$ 150 000.- - Signed “Berthoud à Paris” (dial damaged) Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 10, 2013, lot 313, sold for the amount of CHF 15 000.- - Signed “Schuttleworth” Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, November 11, 2018, lot 344, unsold (Estimation: CHF 9 000.- / 14 000.-).